Apartment Fire in Taneytown
 
By Captain Christopher Harris
February 7, 2016
 

Box 5-1. On Saturday afternoon (2/6/16) at 1524 hrs., EMS personnel from Taneytown investigated smoke coming from a building across from the fire station at 46 E. Baltimore St. As they approached the building, they advised 'Carroll' to dispatch a "Box Assignment" for smoke showing from a building. Engine 81 and Command Support 8 were dispatched to assist units from Taneytown, Harney, Adams Co. Engine 20 (Littlestown) and Frederick Co. Tower 6 (Emmittsburg).

As units arrived, Captain 5 (Neuman) established "Baltimore Street Command" and advised that there was fire in the walls of a 2nd floor apartment. Crews from Station 5 quickly began tearing into the walls to find and extinguish the fire. 'Command' requested the 'Rapid Intervention Dispatch'. Rescue Squad 8 and Ambulance 89 were dispatched as part of the 'RID'.

Engine 81 was assigned to cover a hydrant on Side 'Charlie' for Engine/Tanker 54 and the crew went to 'Personnel Staging' on Side "Alpha". As other units arrived, Adams Co. Engine 202 assisted with primary searches and investigation into extension of fire into other areas of the building, which resulted in negative findings. The fire was contained to the 'Alpha' side interior wall.

Prior to the arrival of the 'RID' units, the Box Assignment was downgraded after about 15 minutes and Station 5 units, as well as Engine 81, remained on the scene to secured the incident and to perform salvage operations. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire appears to have been faulty electrical wiring.

 
Units: E-81, CS-8 (Union Bridge); Ladder 5, E/T-54, A-59 (Taneytown); E-111 (Harney); Adams Co. E-202 (Littlestown); Frederick Co. TW-6 (Emmittsburg); RID - Adams Co. E-201, RS-8, A-89, A-58, Frederick Co. RS-24